The Oklahoma Bar Journal November 2022

Inspired by the renewed move ment for change and progress following the murder of George Floyd, the studio emerged from the pandemic in 2020 as Dragon Yoga, no longer hidden, as a symbol of its commitment to equal repre sentation and justice for all. Over the next year, Dragon launched its largest undertaking to date by transitioning to a 100% dona tion-based yoga studio. Dragon’s transition came as an effort to eliminate financial barriers to forg ing a deeper unity with each other at a time when its community was being pulled apart. Dragon’s com munity and instructors regularly donate their time and expertise to holding donation-based med itations and yoga classes as an act of Seva, or selfless service, to one’s community. In addition, Dragon renewed its commitment to activism by con tinuing to support organizations serving underrepresented popula tions in Oklahoma City, including Save Black Boys, Selfless Hands, Poetry and Chill and Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City. Through its efforts and charity-based yoga classes, Dragon has raised more than $25,000 to provide direct financial support to local nonprofit organizations. Dragon Yoga continues to devote its resources to creating tangible change in Oklahoma City by serving as a partner with local nonprofits serving under represented groups through donation-based yoga classes and meditations from which 100% of the proceeds are donated to char ity, sponsoring charity challenges to raise awareness and donations among its members and provid ing support and volunteering to serve Oklahoma City’s most vulnerable citizens.

Celebrate pioneers and the spirit of the Greenwood District in its different incar nations throughout history; Greenwood District by telling the full story – before and beyond the 1921 massacre; Improve race relations in Tulsa through immersive education that includes compelling exhibits, engag ing programs and interac tive reconciliation initiatives; Provide educational pro grams and resources for K-12, adult and lifelong learners; Include Greenwood District and the city of Tulsa cre ation stories, focusing on the different people groups and how they lived together; Reference urban renewal, acknowledging it as another layer of racial oppression, replete with psychological, economic and physical stress on an already- marginalized community; Offer inspiration and hope for future generations; Provide a space for discus sion and consideration of “next steps”; and Create, through writing and design, a facility that edu cates visitors and encour ages reflection, repeat visitation and engagement, Commemorate the

Dragon Yoga

Since its founding in 2013, Dragon Yoga has served as a catalyst for advancing diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion in the Oklahoma City community. Dragon’s commitment to its mis sion of growth, creative self- expression and evolution through an alignment-based yoga practice that opens the heart has led it to open its doors to Oklahoma City’s most vulnerable communities. Throughout the years, Dragon has provided shelter, volunteer ser vices and financial donations in support of its unhoused neighbors, served as a community gathering place for peaceful demonstrations, led community candlelight vigils and mediations in support and remembrance of victims of racism and abuse of force, and forged bonds with local nonprofits pro viding direct services to diverse communities in Oklahoma City. Dragon has used its platform in service of many underrepresented populations, including the Black community, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, the disabled, veter ans, human trafficking victims and women and children. Dragon calls upon its kula, or community, to welcome all without bias or judg ment and encourages its students to seek the good in all things, especially within themselves and their neighbors because we are all in this together.

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NOVEMBER 2022 | 47

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL